Longtime readers of the Magazine know we believe, “Every Corvette owner has a story.” As luck would have it, a great story came our way while covering Chateau Elan’s 2nd annual “Cars of Chateau” event in Braselton, Ga.
Many of those attending the event strolled by the distinguished gentleman sitting in his 2022 Arctic White C8 Corvette. With his driver-side car door open, he was sitting there casually enjoying a glass of wine and the warmth of the afternoon sun.
To be honest, we had to do a double-take before realizing it was Bobbie Carson.
Bobbie Carson recently achieved notoriety for being the oldest American to take delivery of a Corvette at the National Corvette Museum. But, what makes the story even more special in our eyes, is that he’s also 95 years old, a veteran of World War II, and a Bronze Star recipient.
Oh, and to top it off, he’s had seven Corvettes, and the 2022 C8 is his daily driver.
Even with all of the nationwide media attention, Bobbie was approachable and eager to talk about his admiration for the latest generation Corvette.
For our part, we were eager to listen to the stories of his youth and how this Arctic White mid-engine C8 came into his possession.
“It Moves Down The Road”
Given that Bobbie has owned 7 Corvettes previously, the obvious question was how the new C8 compared with his previous ones. “By far, this is the best one I’ve owned,” he was quick to remark.
“It dwarfs all the others. This Corvette is just beautiful inside and out. Really well done,” he added. Clearly, Bobbie was impressed with the 3LT trim level and the well-appointed Adrenaline Red leather throughout.
Come to find out, Bobbie started his Corvette journey with a 1985 model. Why a 1985 and not the first C4, the 1984 model?
“Well, I waited for the 1985 model because the 1984s rode so rough,” “First year out for a new model is always tough,” he remarked.
Later, he revealed that his wife Jeannie, who recently passed away after 76 years of marriage, was the first Corvette enthusiast of the two. He drove a company car most of his life while Jeannie daily drove the Corvettes.
The conversation eventually turned to his thoughts of the new LT2 engine that puts out 490 horsepower. He leaned in slightly and, with hushed tones, said, “I’ll tell you, Rod, it really moves down the road.”
Not one to waste an opening like that for a follow-up question, I pressed a little “Oh really, how fast?” The only response that came back from Mr. Carson was a tight smile and a twinkle in his eye that spoke volumes.
Enough said. Message received.
Good To Have Friends
Few automobiles on the planet are in greater demand than the all-new eighth-generation Corvette. But, unfortunately, the wait time for delivery can stretch out to a year or longer.
Though for this decorated WWII veteran, the wait was 30 days. How so, might you ask? All we can say is that it’s good to have friends.
The story starts back in Lebanon, Missouri, where Bobbie Carson used to live. He had been active in the Missouri Corvette club for years, and when they found out he had placed his order, they sprang into action.
His friends contacted David Bean, the General Manager of the Ed Morse Chevrolet dealership in Lebanon, Mo. From there, a member of his Missouri Corvette club reached out to a friend at General Motors who oversees Chevrolet.
The friend secured the September 6th build slot when the 2022 models began rolling off the production line at Bowling Green, Ky. Bobbie and his Corvette were united for the first time at the National Corvette Museum through its R8C Delivery program.
In talking with Bobbie, it was clear how appreciative he was to have his production number moved up. He is quick to point out that, “This is one of the top-rated cars in the world.”
“There is a long waitlist for this wonderful car.” I’m happy to get it, and they gave me a great honor getting me in a position to get one.”
Not only does he own a new 2022 C8, but he owns the 42nd model built that year. For Mr. Carson, that number holds personal significance, as we were soon to find out.
U.S. Army’s 42nd Infantry Division
Bobbie Carson served as an infantryman in the U.S. Army’s 42nd Infantry Rainbow Division in World War II. Married just nine days before his 18th birthday, he joined the fighting in Europe after landing in Marseille, France, in 1944.
Upon arriving in Marseille, Carson’s unit was put on trains and transported to France’s heavily forested Ardenne region, where he participated in the Battle of the Bulge.
Following the Battle of the Bulge, his unit continued into Germany and helped liberate the Dachau concentration camp. With clarity, he can still recall his unit spending three days near the infamous facility driving out the last of the SS troops in the area.
From there, his 42nd Infantry Division continued to Munich, where it fought in the final days before Germany surrendered. As you might imagine, the number 42 holds strong memories for him and makes his Corvette build number even more meaningful.
Mr. Carson gave his first-hand account of his experiences during the war in a Library of Congress video recorded in 2018. For those history fans among us, it provides a rare glimpse into that historical period.
His Service Honored
It was great to see Chevrolet come through for the 95-year-old WWII veteran and honor his service to our country. We can’t think of anyone more deserving of the 42nd Corvette to roll off the 2022 assembly line in Bowling Green, Ky.
Bobbie now calls North Georgia home, so if you see an Arctic White C8 coming up fast in your rearview mirror, it might just be him.
There is one thing we know for sure. We found a WWII veteran who is enjoying the good life with his 2022 Corvette.
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